Improved brick-repressing machine



initmltatea aient dtijlire.

Letters Patent No. 105,270, dated July 12, 1870.

IMPROVED BRICK-REPRESSIN G- MACHINE.

*H The s chedulerefetred to in these-Letters Patent and making part ofthe same.

To whom it may concern Be it known that I, ANDREW J. SPRAGUE, of Toledo, in the county of `Lucas and State ci' Ohio, have invented a newand useful Improvement in Machines for Repressing Brick; and I dodeclare that the following is a true and accurate description thereof,reference being had to the .accompanying drawing and to ,the letters ofreference marked thereon, and being a part of this specification.

Figure 1 is a side elevation:

Figure 2 is a vertical cross-section, showing the position of theWorking parts, and a brick just ready to move forward upon the apron tothe press.

Figure 3 is a section, showing the brick in the process of beingpressed.

Figure 4 is also a section, showing the manner in which the brick isreleased after being pressed.

Like letters indicate like parts in each figure.

The nature of this invention relates to the construction of an apparatusfor repressing brick after they have been molded in any ordinary manner,when they are required for front or outside work, where pel'- fectuniformity in size, and square and true corners and edges are desired.

The invention consists in a new and ingenious arrangement of well-knownmechanical devices, and their peculiar application to producethe/purpose desired.

In the accompanying drawing- A represents a suitable frame-work, whichsustains .the working parts of the apparatus.

B represents a shaft, whose ends are properly journaled into theopposite sides of the frame A, and receives motion from the gearedwheels C, or any other' suitable means. D are cams, rigidly secured tosaid shaft B for thel purpose, in the rotation of the shaft, of raisingthe mold-box E, by means of the downward-projecting arms a, whose lowerextremities are provided with suitable friction-wheels b, which engagewith and travel upon the face of the cams D.

F is another cam, also rigidly secured to the centre 'of the length ofsaid shaft B, and is of a peculiar shape, as shown, and provided with aprolongation, c, for the purposehereinafter described.

This cam, in the rotation of the shaft B, gives an upward motion to theconnecting-rod G, the lower end of which is provided with wheel orfriction-roller-d, which engages with and travels upon the face of thecam F, while its upperend is secured to the bed H.

I is a-yoke, supported by and secured to the frame A by means of thethreaded bolts e and nuts j, and, by means ofthe same devices, said yokemay be raised or lowered, as desired.

To the under side of this yoke is secured the fixed platen J, the faceof which should be the size of the surface of the brick, and should iillthe mold-box E.

The lower face of this platen is covered by a sheet of rubber, g,secured at its two ends in any appropriate manner.

Some holes, h, pass' vertically through the platen, and coincidentlythrough the rubber sheet, for the purpose of letting any surplus clayout of the mold box. Y

Other holes, i, four or more in number, also pass vertically through thesaid platen, near its corners, for the purpose hereinafter explained.

R is a drum, properly jonrnalled between the sides of the frame A andits shaft, provided with a spider,

' K, rigidly secured'theretc.

The face ofthe drum is provided with spurs, 7c, pro'- jecting slightlyfrom its periphery, for the purpose of compelling, in the rotation ofsaid drum, the endless apron L to advance with lthe said rotation.

Motion is communicated tosaid drum by means of the projecting arm l,which is secured -tothe geared wheel C', and, in its rotation, engageswith one ofthe arms of the spider, and rotates it until released fromsaid engagement, thereby giving an intermittent rotary motion to thedrum.'

Said endless belt or apron L is .made of coarse strong canvas, for thepurpose of roughening, by indentation of its threads, into the lowersurface-of the bricks, the more eiiectually to enable the mortar withwhich they may be laid to hold.' Y

The apron passes around the drum and the rollers M, which are soarranged,frelatively to each other, that the apron is easily. rotated;as desired, to carry the brick into the press, and'out from the `sameafter they have been pressed. f y

Should it be deemed preferable, any other suitable material may be usedfor this apron or belt, such-as leather or rubber.

In the operation of this apparatus, a brick is placed on the apron, withone end and side next the guidesA m, the mold-box resting upon saidapron.

In the rotation of the crank and shaft the bed is raised, carrying upwith it the` mold-box, the platen entering said mold-box from the top.In the con tinued rotation of the machine, the bed descends, leaving themold-box up against the yoke.

The projection 'on the Ageared wheel then engages with an arm of thespider, and partially 'rotates the drum and apron, which carries thebrick to its proper position under the mold-box, which descends andincloses it, the brick resting upon the apron, immediately over thecenter of the bed.

- It will be seen that after the brick has been pressed .the bed fallsbutv a little way, while the atmospheric pressure admitted to the upperside of the rubber sheet dedects the same, 'and compels the brick toldrop on to the apron, when the prolongation of the cam allows thebedt'o drop to place ready to receive A another brick, hile that alreadypressed is passed out nt the 'opposite side, Ain the same movement ofthe apron. f *y What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure Thecombination of the frame A, shft'B, cams D F, mold-box E, connecting-rodG, bed H, ,yoke I, platen J, spider K, apron L, 4rollers M, and drum R,when constructed, arranged, and operating substantially as and for the-purposes herein described, set

forth, and shown.

ANDREW J. SPRAGUE.

Witnesses: y l

H. S. SPRAGUE, JAS. I. DAY.

